Gantz Vows to Continue Campaign Amidst Polls; Netanyahu Attacks Rival Winter

With 17 days remaining until the upcoming elections, Benny Gantz, chairman of the Blue and White party, declared in a Saturday night statement that he is "running until the end," despite polls indicating his party may not pass the electoral threshold. Concurrently, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu intensified his campaign against Ofer Winter, chairman of the Am Ekh Israel party, releasing a video labeling Winter as "Naftali Bennett 2."

Gantz stated in his address, "We are on the way to disaster. We must stop and save the country." He criticized politicians from both blocs for opposing the unity he advocates, suggesting they benefit politically from division and are leading Israel toward more elections and narrow governments that will weaken the nation and invite attacks from enemies. "I have decided not to surrender to our enemies. To fight our enemies, I must fight for unity among us, and therefore I am running until the end," Gantz asserted. He further clarified that he does not belong to any bloc and that those claiming he is wasting votes are lying out of fear. He urged potential voters, stating, "You are not alone. Vote, and we will save the country."

Prime Minister Netanyahu, meanwhile, escalated his attacks on Winter, following a significant campaign increase by the Likud party last week aimed at deterring voters and pushing Winter below the electoral threshold. Netanyahu shared a clip from a Channel 12 interview where Winter said, "Let Bibi jump for me." Addressing his supporters, Netanyahu said, "It's clear. Winter is under pressure because he understands that you understand, and you understand that he is 'Bennett 2'." Netanyahu drew parallels to Naftali Bennett, claiming Bennett promised to align with the right but ended up with the "Muslim Brotherhood." The Prime Minister also alleged that Winter's party members, including his number two, Yosef Haddad, desire a Palestinian state and that "an investigation committee headed by the "deep state."

Netanyahu cited a tweet from former IDF Spokesperson Ronen Manelis, quoting, "Run Winter, run," suggesting that media outlets and "panic" are promoting Winter because they know he will transfer votes to the left. He urged voters not to gamble with Israel's fate and to vote Likud, concluding, "If it walks like Bennett and sounds like Bennett, it's Bennett."